Volbeat's Genre:

Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock

Biography

Volbeat, a Danish metal band begun by former Dominus leader Michael Poulsen in October of 2001, became a dominant force not only in Danish metal, but in Danish rock as a whole, charting albums and singles on a regular basis. Poulsen's earlier group, Dominus, was a giant in Danish metal, releasing four albums in ten years, and making a lasting impression on the scene. Poulsen felt it was time to start over, and his concept of giving straight-up heavy metal a more trad rock flourish (Poulsen was a big Elvis fan, if that is any indication) was at the heart of Volbeat. Bringing together members Franz Gottschalk on guitar (he would be replaced by Thomas Bredahl in 2006), Jon Larsen on drums, and Anders Kjølholm on bass, vocalist and guitarist Poulsen was able to release the band's first demo, Volbeat, in 2002. Reception was lukewarm to the initial release, but the group's second demo, Beat the Meat, was an instant success, getting airplay on European radio. Volbeat consolidated this early win with a semifinal appearance on the Danish talent show competition Live Contest. From then on, Volbeat began an almost constant work schedule, including performances with Europe and America's biggest metal acts, as well as winning a number of genre and industry awards for their music. The band soon landed a record deal with Rebel Monster, and released The Strength/The Sound/The Songs. That first "official" release was a relative monster in the band's home nation, and beyond brisk sales, the album won a handful of awards, including Best Album in the Danish Metal Musik Awards in 2005. Volbeat had further reason to celebrate, as 2006 saw the group playing most of the Continent's best-known rock festivals, including Roskilde and Summer Breeze. They followed up these appearances with a Danish tour. A follow-up to their best-selling debut finally appeared in shops in 2007. Titled Rock the Rebel/Metal the Devil, the album debuted at number one in Denmark, and later that year Volbeat made a repeat appearance at Roskilde, opened for Metallica and Megadeth, and once again toured Europe. They followed that chart-topper with Guitar Gangsters and Cadillac Blood in 2008, which also hit the top spot in Denmark, and once more toured festivals worldwide, seeing their brand of metal, hard rock, and punk cross over into the pop market without a concession in their sound. In 2010 Volbeat released Above Heaven/Beyond Hell with guest appearances from Mercyful Fate/King Diamond guitarist Michael Denner, Napalm Death's Mark "Barney" Greenway, Kreator's Mille Petrozza, and Jacob Øelund of rockabilly crew Taggy Tones. They toured relentlessly for the next year and a half on their own and played many festivals. In 2012 Volbeat reentered the studio and emerged in April 2013 with their sixth proper album, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies, which introduced a new member of the group, former Anthrax guitarist Robert Caggiano, who was brought in to co-produce and add guitar solos for the project and ended up joining the band. One of Volbeat's most stylistically diverse offerings to date, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies also became a major international success; it went to number one in Austria, Canada, Denmark, Holland, Germany, Norway, and Switzerland, while making the Top Ten in the United States, Sweden, Holland, and Belgium. ~ Chris True

AOL Radio Stations Volbeat is Featured on (10)

Alt. Hard Rock delivers the harder, edgier, rock side of the Alternative music world. You'll hear staples like Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam and Nirvana as well as the the latest from the Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, Green Day and more.

Slacker has teamed with a multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated rock star to countdown the 55 greatest rock songs of the century. Chris Daughtry is your host as we take a look at the best rock from Y2K through today, featuring monster hits from true rockers like A Perfect Circle, System Of A Down, Avenged Sevenfold, Stone Sour, Shinedown, Halestorm, and more.

Formed in Sin City in 2005, Five Finger Death Punch built up a huge following after the release of their 2007 debut album “The Way of the Fist.” They’ve toured relentlessly and have sold over 2.6 million albums in the U.S. alone. This station is a look at the band’s metal and hard rock influences, collaborators, and tour mates. It’s Five Finger Death Punch: DNA.

Fitz Madrid is your host for Rock Hits. It’s the best of the catalogue from Metallica, System of a Down and Nirvana with a little classic rock for spice. You'll also hear new music from bands like Shinedown, Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin and many more.

Hard Rock brings you the best music from bands like System of a Down, Chevelle, Tool, Korn, Shinedown, Metallica and Disturbed as well as deeper album cuts from your favorite bands to give you the full hard rock experience.

Linkin Park has taken elements of rock, hip hop, and electronic music to create a sound all their own, so it’s fitting that this exploration of Linkin Park’s influences, collaborations, and inspirations touches on all 3 genres. You'll hear music from Jay Z to Metallica, Steve Aoki to Stone Temple Pilots, and tons of hits and deep cuts from their nearly 20-year career.

Artists Related to Volbeat (10)

Edgy Las Vegas-based hard rock outfit Adelitas Way broke into the mainstream in 2009 with the song "Invincible," which appeared on numerous television spots for CSI Miami and served as the theme song for the weekly World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars show.

Melodic post-grunge outfit Pop Evil formed in Grand Rapids, MI, in November 2001 with a sound that took cues from the likes of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, aptly putting the quartet right in line with popular modern rock acts such as Crossfade, Shinedown, and Puddle of Mudd.

A post-grunge hard rock band out of Jefferson City, Missouri, Shaman's Harvest was formed in 1996 by vocalist Nathan "Drake" Hunt, bassist Matt Fisher, and guitarist Josh Hamler, who remained the core of the band, which grew to include Joe Harrington and Derrick Shipp, with Ryan Tomlinson also serving as a guitarist for a time.

Harking back to the electronic/rock fusion pioneered in the '80s and '90s, industrial metal band Device were formed in 2012 by Disturbed frontman David Draiman and former Filter guitarist Geno Lenardo.

Heralded in their early days by Fox News as one of the best unsigned bands in the country after their debut single, "Soldiers," sold over 10,000 copies digitally, Otherwise were out to live their rock & roll dreams with a blend of plaintive post-grunge and driving hard rock.